A New Broom Sweeps Clean

Indonesia’s Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Dahlan Iskan has issued instructions to government-owned hotels to clean up their acts in order to remain competitive. Iskan, much admired for his straightforward approach to the management of state-owned companies, pointed his “clean up” order in particular at the Natour Inna Group of government-owned hotels.

Quoted by the National Press Agency Antara, Dwi Agus Kristianto, the marketing manager of the Hotel Inna-Garuda in Yogyakarta, Central Java, said, “If you see that a hotel is already dirty from the outside, people will retreat and not stay there."

Dwi’s comments were made in connection with plans to renovate his hotel.

Accompanied by Retno Kusamaningrum, the public relations spokesperson for the Hotel Inna-Garuda, Dwi revealed that the clean up order from Minister Dahlan Iskan is part of an larger plan to upgrade the appearance of the Inna Hotel Group in a number of cities, including Yogyakarta.

The instructions of the BUMN Minister were delivered to the directors of the PT Indonesia Natour (Inna) Hotel group to be carried out by each property in accordance with current condition. “His instructions were packaged in a 500 day of change program that stretches from late 2011 through May 2013,” said Dwi.

Regarding the Inna Garuda Hotel in Yogyakarta, he said the renovation that has already been accomplished has included repainting if the hotel in the dominant share of white, with particular attention to the main gate facing Bali’s main thoroughfare of Jalan Malioboro.

The city-center hotel has already replaced the keys for all rooms with a key card system.

The hotel first opened in 1911 and under went a major renovation in 1982.

Retno told the press that the 500 Days of Change program is also being achieved by readjusting the attitude of all the hotel’s staff. Staff are now placing more emphasis on friendliness and attention to guest service.

“Our staff and employees feel as though they have been given a new spirit via the push provided by Bapak Dahlan Iskan. He has given us an example by choosing always to stay at government-owned hotels, unlike the government officials who preceded him,” said Retno Kusumaninggrum.

The Hotel Inna-Garuda is located only 300-meters from Yogyakarta’s main train station. The property has 223 rooms spread across a number of categories.

The Inna-Group of Hotels ordered to clean up total 12 properties, including five resorts in Bali.